“Good morning baby.” Bette said in a deep sultry voice, only to realize that she was waking up to an empty bed. She instinctively reached for Tina on the other side of the bed, ‘She’s not there.’ Bette closed her eyes pleading, ‘Oh ***** please don’t let it all be a dream!’

“Bette are you awake?”

Bette sighed and opened her eyes. Thank you.’ she thought, not really thanking anyone in particular. She saw Tina walking in the bright morning light, ‘God she’s beautiful.’ Bette quietly remarked, noting every single detail on Tina’s face, taking in every inch of skin her eyes would allow her to savor.

“Hey! Good morning babe.” Tina said smiling and moving towards Bette.

Bette had managed to sit up as Tina came over to her and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Bette was staring at her, but she didn’t bother to say a single word for what seemed like forever, and Tina found herself getting uncomfortable, sitting there in silence. ‘What’s going on with her?’ Tina thought. Finally Bette spoke.

“T, do you know you have three little freckles right… there?” she said pointing to a place just above Tina’s left cheekbone.

Tina gave Bette a goofy smile. “What?”

“It’s right there see?” Bette said, taking one of Tina’s hands she gently guided Tina’s fingers along the spot where the freckles lay. Bette was now fully concentrating her attention on Tina’s eyes. “And when you smile, or laugh, or cry, they go away…”

“Bette what has gotten into you?”

“Nothing T. It’s just seeing you here makes me realize how big the ‘little things’ in life really are.”

“Are you saying that I’m little?” Tina joked, trying her best to look oblivious.

Bette grabbed a fluffy pillow and playfully threw it towards Tina as she stood up and walked away from the bedroom.

“Ow! That hurt!” Tina said throwing the pillow back at Bette, missing only by a few inches, “Where are you going?”

“Sorry babe. I gotta get ready for work.” Bette said, winking at Tina.

Tina’s eye’s followed Bette as she walked out of the room before she collapsed onto the bed, ‘I’m gonna find that ring even if it kills me!’

Twenty minutes later Bette was already dressed, she gave Tina a sweet good-bye kiss before briskly making her way to work.
__________________________________

“Is she gone?” Alice asked as Tina opened the door for her.

“Yeah she left half an hour ago.” Tina looked behind Alice, “Where’s Shane and Dana?”

“Oh they’ll be here…” Alice said sounding a bit distracted. She looked around until she finally came across a picture frame with a photo of Tina and Bette together, looking very happy. She knew that what was about to happen next would hurt, but she knew Tina had to hear it:

“Tina what are you doing?”

Tina raised a brow, “What do you mean?”

Alice hesitated for a while before finally blurting the words out, “I mean what are you doing back with Bette?”

“Alice don’t start…”

“Listen to you, you don’t even sound mad! She cheated on you Tina!”

“I know that”” Tina began to say slowly but Alice took the opportunity to interrupt her.

“Look, she’s my friend and I love her but…” Alice paused trying to find the right words “you’re my friend too!”

“C’mon Al, we’ve been together for seven years, you don’t just throw that away.” Tina reasoned out.

“Well maybe you’re just doing it for the seven glorious years together T, and not for how you’re actually feeling right now. I mean are you even sure you know what you’re doing?”

Tina sat down on the couch, speechless, ‘What if Alice is right?’ she pondered. She was quite taken aback by Alice’s endless line of questioning, but she knew that Alice was only trying to be a good friend. Tina stood up and made her way towards the picture frame Alice was just admiring few minutes ago.

“We took this when we were on vacation in Oahu…” Tina said softly, never taking her eyes of the picture, “God I had such a bad case of sunburn after we got back!” she stroked her fingers across the smooth glass, “But Bette still asked me to marry her two days after…”

Alice looked at Tina thoughtfully, a faint smile showing on her face.

“Can you imagine? I looked like a red tomato on steriods and there was Bette Porter, asking me to spend the rest of my life with her, it was unbelievable!” Tina let out a small laugh before continuing.

“It’s that feeling Alice, it’s addictive… it’s the kind of thing that gets under your skin and no matter how much you try, you can’t scratch it off.” Tina’s words lingered for a while. “Not even after you loose a baby…. or when your wife cheats on you, it’s still gonna be there.”

Alice went over to Tina and rested her hand on one of Tina’s shoulder, “T…”

Tina turned to face Alice, “You know… if someone asked me to tell them the only thing I knew for sure right here, right now… it would be that I love Bette, and that I’d do whatever it takes… even if I’m still disappointed at her.” Tina said, finally answering Alice’s question. “Please tell me you understand…”

Alice immediately gave Tina a warm hug, “Sheesh! I cant believe you just compared loving Bette to a nasty itch!” She let Tina giggle before she continued, Come on let’s go look for your ring.”